My Ex-Husband Came Back Crazy - Chapter 94

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 94
Chapter 10.염(4)
What’s all this about?
The moment Celia’s grip tightened on the doorknob, Lucius rose from his seat and crossed to her.
“Something the matter?”
“Oh, I just…”
She trailed off, realizing she had no real reason to explain herself.
Rather than press her further, Lucius adjusted her slipping shawl and guided her forward by the wrist, his touch light but certain.
The moment she stepped into the room, all eyes followed her in hushed attention.
Lucius moved around the back of his chair and pulled it out for her.
With one hand steadying the table’s edge to prevent her from bumping it, he nudged the chair closer with the other—a small courtesy that spoke volumes.
“Sit here.”
She lifted her head, confusion written across her face.
The men seated in a circle around them bowed their heads naturally.
“It’s been a long time, Lady Windmere,” the brown-haired man nearest to her said, setting down his teacup and placing his hand over his chest.
He was the first to withdraw from his drink.
“Oh… yes.”
Her reply came late, a stark contrast to how confidently she’d boasted to Lucius about her social grace. Yet her companion seemed unbothered.
The man beside him spoke next, his tone measured.
“I heard you’d been ill, so it’s a relief to see you’ve recovered so well.”
“My wife has some excellent tea. If you’d permit it, I’d be honored to send some as a gift.”
Celia blinked, looking first at Lucius and then at the faces around her—familiar yet strange all at once.
“I’ve been fortunate to have skilled physicians attend to me, so my recovery has been smooth. Thank you for the tea—and for your concern. I’m grateful.”
Now she recognized them: the men Lucius had kept close since long ago. Unlike Celia, who’d always moved alone, these were the companions he’d always gathered around him.
“Please, it’s our pleasure if we can be of service to you,” one of them replied warmly.
“We’re honored to visit you today. Thank you for inviting us to your newly established residence,” another added.
They weren’t overly familiar, nor were they stiff with formality.
Their voices were soft but rounded, and the faint fragrance clinging to their clothing spoke of care taken in every gesture.
Warm smiles, gracious manners, men who smelled of consideration.
She said nothing.
‘They suit him perfectly,’ she thought.
‘It’s been almost half a year since he lost his memory, and now he’s inviting old friends to the house?’
But what of it?
Why suddenly insert me into their little gathering like this? Do I even belong here?
Celia reached up and tugged at Lucius’s sleeve. Her eyes crinkled with confusion as she gazed up at him, and though he showed no concern at having surrendered his seat, the corner of his mouth lifted slowly.
“Will you wait just a moment for me? They’ll be leaving soon.”
One of the men answered immediately from nearby.
“Of course—we won’t impose on Lucius too much longer.”
“My wife is waiting for me as well. If I’m late, I won’t be crossing the threshold of my own house tonight.”
There was a playful edge to their words. But the laughter lingering at their lips was genuine.
One of the other men drew out a pair of fine gloves from inside his jacket and examined them with care.
“I’m planning to visit my betrothed as well. She selected a new ribbon today and insisted I come see it.”
As he spoke, his gaze softened on the gloves. Celia understood at once: these were a gift from the woman he’d mentioned, from the one waiting for him. That warm look in his eyes—it was the expression of someone picturing the face he loved.
Something tightened in Celia’s chest, and she closed her mouth.
It was the beauty of love woven into their everyday lives that moved her.
A warmth both tranquil and tender seemed to settle over her.
Suddenly, she looked up at Lucius.
“What?”
Did they see him the same way—as someone blissful, in love?
‘But they know everything,’ she thought.
They knew the time when she’d destroyed his belongings, secretly freed the birds he’d been given from their cage, and constantly bit at his words.
‘Love with someone like me? Shouldn’t they be talking me out of this?’
Yet here they stood, accepting the situation with natural grace. They didn’t react with shock the way others might, nor did they regard their relationship as strange.
“The tea’s steeped a bit too strong, I think. Celia, give me that. I’ll brew a fresh cup.”
As though his choice were the only answer that mattered.
“Then, for the peace of tonight, shall we continue our earlier discussion?”
Lucius leaned forward and unfolded a blueprint across the desk.
It was the design for the Albion Bridge.
***
Lucius hid nothing from her.
Information was precious in a situation where everyone wanted a stake in the bridge’s construction and hoped to benefit from it—yet he laid everything bare before her.
‘What will I do if I tell Father all this?’
As Lucius saw his guests to the door and disappeared, Celia remained seated, her lips moving silently, working against themselves.
‘I need to send Father the information, but…’
The moment he stepped back through the door, his gaze fixed directly on her lips.
The warmth that had lingered in his eyes extinguished. In those green eyes, watching the reddened flesh, a quiet shadow gathered.
“I made you wait,” he said softly.
“What? No, that’s not—”
She looked up too late. He’d already drawn close enough to press his thumb against the inflamed skin of her lower lip. The wound stung at the pressure, and she flinched.
“Ah…?”
He lowered his head, watching her reaction.
“Why are you biting here again?”
“It’s my body, my own—”
“Wasn’t what I bit yesterday enough for you?”
She gasped, catching her breath in a hiccup, and her hand flew to cover her mouth.
‘What shameless nerve!’
Shock widened her eyes, yet he didn’t smile. His fingers parted hers, and his lips brushed gently beneath her lip.
“That’s my share. Leave it for me.”
Then came a brief kiss—his full lip meeting hers for just a moment, barely grazing the damaged skin.
“You, you—!”
“If you don’t like it, then don’t do this again, all right?”
Her mouth fell open in surprise. The reproach that her office—a place meant for serious work—was no place for such behavior rose to her throat.
“But why did you come looking for me?”
She said nothing.
“I heard you had no appointments today. Did you… come to visit me?”
‘Of all the infuriating things.’
The way he said it made it sound as though she’d sought him out because she missed him.
Celia’s pale face flushed and paled in quick succession. Her hands flew to her hair, and she made a sound like something dragged up from the depths of perdition.
“Then what would you have me do!”
His gaze remained fixed on her lips as the corners of his eyes crinkled with amusement, and a faint blush crept up his neck.
“Really…?”
Long arms wrapped around her waist, drawing her chair—and her with it—closer.
“You really came to see me?”
“Why do you keep asking!”
Celia shoved at his chest with both hands.
Rather than yield, Lucius merely turned his head, evading her defense by pressing his lips to her cheek.
“Lucius!”
“Call me by my shorter name—affectionately.”
Having traversed her cheek, he now captured the curve of her jaw in another brief kiss. When she turned her face away, he followed. When she raised her palm to block him, his lips found the inside of her wrist. Persistent and relentless.
“Come to think of it, we’ve never done this anywhere else.”
He smiled down at her flushed face with unmistakable satisfaction.
“I’ll make you feel good.”
“You’re insane…”
She could see the barely concealed hunger in those eyes beneath his prettily fluttering lashes.
“I promise. I’ll make you happy.”
***
Bastard.
Celia briefly questioned whether such a term was fitting to apply to someone to whom she’d opened her heart. Yet no other word captured the essence of Lucius in that office quite so perfectly.
‘If the butler hadn’t come looking for me, I don’t know how much longer that would have gone on.’
Having fled to the rear garden, Celia’s ears were still burning.
“Did he have this side to him before losing his memory?”
He’d always been so composed—she’d never seen him fixate on anything.
Her confusion was her downfall.
From beyond the sparse, skeletal bushes, a low voice drifted toward her. Instinctively, Celia stopped in her tracks. Between the bare branches, two men stood conversing.
One was Rowald, whose face she knew well; the other was one of Lucius’s companions from the office.
‘Damn. I can’t remember his name.’
What was this gentleman doing with him anyway?
After a moment’s hesitation, she came to a simple decision: pretend not to know. I’ll just slip away before they notice me.
“First, the corruption within House Larendel was exposed, and the Imperial Palace launched an investigation,” the man said.
Celia’s feet froze.
“That’s only the beginning,” Rowald replied calmly.
“Destroy the house first, ensure no allies remain by her side… and then, in the end, well, everyone knows how it will finish. Like Farenheit.”
Something cold scraped the back of Celia’s neck.
Unaware of her presence, the two men continued their conversation with a trace of laughter in their voices.
“House Larendel also failed in raising their children.”
“They indulged their only daughter too much, letting her do as she pleased. Who could have predicted she’d touch the Consort?”
Celia stood motionless for a long time, listening to their words.
Her heart beat with the frantic rhythm of a newborn thing.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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